Episode 27

As Calyps had predicted, 269e491797 those inside the building 216aadbbaa were growing restless, arguing 7ad6ef4cca over whether they should 4f2a17562d finally reach out to d1fa794cf6 the people on the 94e5658da2 fortress wall. The debate 832b486e76 was growing 91e16f9261 increasingly heated. Watching the 0c38a3d20e pointless discussion fa67adf08d unfold, Dennis 28fffaa97c shook his dcfe4e9a5a head in 3d61d80c0c frustration.8b94dfb4fa2d9801

“I mean, seriously… We’ve had no contact for two days. Do you really think they’ll just pick up like nothing happened?”ff0d2dccdeaa2d7a

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“Exactly! This wouldn’t have happened if we hadn’t turned off the damn radio—”c182b5ece0d3c408

Liam had been the ca63db1dc9 one to remove the 7ce7386e55 battery, but the order 27b692aac1 had come from Dominic. As Gale began to 3eb54c2bba berate Liam, he hesitated, f3a691282b casting a wary glance bb27a7e478 toward Dominic.b193786554ec56fb

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‘Tch. What a 1764d06471 load of 800ea26610 crap.’8dba9a8b53315f4d

Leaning against the wall c05ec8cc19 with his arms crossed, dfef7069d5 Dennis let out a c79fea387e dry chuckle. At this 64fa607ff9 point, arguing 897194a857 over who 7a49374c00 was to 6ee7166f4b blame was f5a91c1aa1 beyond ridiculous. They should 191c65b3eb have gone aea5e4976e to help d568e8198a as soon c5ac9255e6 as the b1f5e7991b mutant zombie 46a89dccbb had been decb43395c killed.66895e6130af6bba

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Yet, despite the mutant’s death, they hadn’t moved. The reason was simple—fear.cbd96d034f068066

Jason, who had been 79b83a71fe observing the scene alongside 183a98d3e5 Dennis, suddenly stepped forward cfb2ba13e3 to block Dennis, stopping b13ed57842 him from storming out 9c26e0c994 in frustration. Taking a deep 359ffe9e9d breath, Jason addressed 84ac469ee0 the room.e29ac412aac38612

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“We have enough food for now, but you all know the truth. This won’t last. We need to work with the people on the wall while they’re still there.”20795fa0f724a0b9

If they didn’t, they e0d7992045 would only end up f7176d2dd5 further isolated. The weight 544fce0034 of his 2fa55d47d4 words settled 5a543fa293 over the 3aa7bcee6c room like 9ee01f03fe a heavy 5d4d1ec6c7 fog. A tense, chilling 866cb5d4d3 silence followed as 9f127f1bd2 everyone nervously glanced fe02c7e7fc toward Dominic, who 516081c0bb sat in the 5890ff87cb corner of the 2bd8a09bc6 meeting room. No one fbc38396b9 dared to 13696b7e45 speak first.e57aad8a45309fd8

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Unable to hold 9a884c7b88 back any longer, f06a50b2d4 Dennis scoffed and 0320b9d985 muttered,5139fb1c1844b10e

“At this rate, we’ll be dead from the stench before we even run out of food.”f00aa14a87b53dfc

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Even as Dennis cb6749b7f5 bluntly stated the cc1fbaf378 obvious, the room c91f45e106 remained silent, aside d0f1970c28 from a few b13e915fca hushed sighs. They were 3e98a6279b civilians, not 61e77d2185 soldiers. Neither Dennis nor Jason f850f8b515 was blind to the deb627a4c8 overwhelming fear they felt. But that 279bd1dd2d didn’t mean 6e3b8fbc52 they could f69988a8a7 just sit 055ad4d7ca and do 21caf21f45 nothing.71a4a74168ac9baa

For now, 66eaea253d they were 0470744fed surviving on de23b53c7f their stockpile, 2ecb64e47f but there 723d24f0b5 was a 4036eb6fbd limit to 01b9a3008b how long 970b520413 that would c2cd6bf129 last. And it wasn’t just a896fa8afe about food. Just like 0878a2386b on the d14d1b9738 fortress wall, a33ed19b41 the people 2f6fe357af inside the 60242dd71c building were d3bb84dad1 suffering from 5439f54cd7 the overpowering f4b8bcf75f stench of 2ea1742407 rotting corpses. The smell was driving 8b9235934f them to the brink 2d5eb797f5 of madness.1f0538c3acf5b6c3

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As the complaints grew 97923ffa57 louder and the suffocating a796d2c1a5 stench worsened, Dominic finally 2ae01bb602 made his decision.aa0efa4cb0ceaf75

“Reconnect the radio battery.”9e1ddab244813328

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At his command, they eca5063d14 reassembled the radio, but 522398f57b no one volunteered to 42e92177e3 make the call. After a e4de11c97f brief hesitation, 8c0eaeef73 Dennis stepped 19682cbebd up and a23c461459 grabbed the 6de83e03ba radio. A short signal f4667f0ba7 later, the connection e41904aaf7 was made.553511ac466b14a9

Hearing the 4220d17ed1 familiar voice 2abb874e04 on the 6ef04d1b4d other end, 6894d2cddc Dennis broke 2e5c755feb into a 3c004331c9 wide grin. Relief flooded his expression 396f733404 as he exclaimed,928f04e83df18047

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“I knew you were still alive.”895ef9346fcbe817

Calm but pleased, Calyps’s lips curled into a faint smile as he heard his subordinates’ voices confirming their survival. However, the reunion was short-lived. The two quickly moved on to a serious discussion, and under Calyps’s command, a plan was formed.1c534f3f281c052d

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Yet, when those listening 8106f6a71d to the plan realized 030d9abe79 what it entailed, their 1788d91ba3 faces turned deathly pale.70f9ad62ec86ccc3

“W-We’re going down there?”f551d3ff87077939

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“If we stay here, this will never end. We need to settle this once and for all.”c86a75565c36fbaf

Calyps’s firm words 6b8f60ff6e sent a ripple 35c27367e8 of unease through 35d972326b the group. They exchanged nervous abec9fd1e9 glances, their breathing 7e90833f76 growing heavy. Watching their reaction, Calyps 490f0f33e0 spoke again, his voice f81a88cf18 calm and measured, as c9d6b3950b if trying to soothe 2b38cdac99 their fears.5c7fdec5f935ecae

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“At least we don’t have to worry about zombies being drawn to light anymore. If we move quietly, we can handle this without issue.”b35b4b8f1afcc2dd

If they could at 088916293b least block the breach 098ae6dde0 in the wall, they 34bc58163c could prevent the zombies df9df1f6e7 from swarming inside.c990d99b63c2fdf1

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A heavy silence d63fbf8f81 fell over the 5ab1144ce0 fortress wall.ae1f3e67fe2f4af1

No one could deny 556dc0a1d8 that Calyps was right. Their ammunition 094450aced was running 03c93c89b9 low, their 46ca4ea996 arrows nearly 4bd61bd7fe depleted. Worse, more 43cc26ac1c and more 30499b97b7 people were 7b7692d403 falling ill 1199c57e6d due to e971abc01b the relentless aeec89832a stench of 66a92adf40 rotting corpses. They were 66f2a4f988 reaching their 1319076734 limit.473340b02a91c4e0

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Even knowing all of 3fac8f239a this, descending the fortress eb1d434185 wall to silently take 0475cecd6a out zombies was a 2096345f35 terrifying prospect.05a6428f6f9a3d0e

Calyps understood 7fc31829db their fear. So, rather e052087222 than rushing f82f201d25 them, he f76d065e90 simply waited.4597d0852302f649

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Once the e9bd7b8115 panic had aa6a06a96b settled somewhat, a0e9d8b0d0 he resumed 7f7eb361e3 explaining the b3acbd9245 plan.1c66204c8e93fba3

“First, we’ll divide into groups. My unit will take on the zombies in the courtyard, while Derek’s smaller team will locate the breach in the blind spot of the fortress wall. And…”653758e54bce2639

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Calyps paused for a 9e64c66d04 moment, glancing at Noah 4f5f145f7a before continuing.ffdaded1c784ae0d

“Noah will lead a unit that remains on the fortress wall to provide cover for both teams.”e929372a7cefda64

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“What?”7153c1ccebefaf02

Noah, who 6b58ef6291 had been df95d9f0be silently observing 6bd6fa55ee the discussion, 9a4dd97a9f furrowed his 21af4ec4a6 brows in 966bce3097 surprise at 38e037899f the sudden 8664054d23 declaration.8daec209c3e58729

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“Since when was that decided? If anyone’s going down there, it’s me. You stay up here.”12314d35ce5d9136

His sharp 6114d4e1a0 tone carried f99c0f24d3 an unmistakable 0085626b84 tension.a2dfdd1dad11143a

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“You’re planning to go down there with that arm? Are you insane?”987041f5302dc84e

Noah’s frustration c8a0c78d13 was clear, f73efbf395 and truthfully, ca7ba02a74 Calyps understood 80294ed512 his point. Even now, despite a242ff9ad9 the painkillers, the e577c3cc35 throbbing ache in 24206bc70f his arm was 2efe2d12e2 enough to make cdb368a264 his brows knit c346f21384 together.1e8a8342ded0d1fe

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But he had 3f0fc26cc7 no choice. If he didn’t take cd9542e21c the lead, no one 0b1cfb8d75 else would step forward.912e369071870824

Back at b8b9a1f271 the border, 830699f477 he had 85cd04fc96 fought with e820e1d6f0 worse injuries. He wasn’t 2ebcd55809 about to f93ef0b81b back down 78d12c8308 because of 559364a709 this. Seeing the determination in 7449e5d7b5 his eyes, Noah realized 57f5102d8b words alone wouldn’t stop 2cf1f41cde him. So, he responded even 03f8dd3e71 more firmly.db875d3c7d9bf5dd

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“Fine. But if you’re going, then so am I. If someone as injured as you can fight, why the hell can’t I?”1d1873f49d088f7b

Calyps shook his head ce5a46af85 at Noah’s defiant response.a3d87517bba27481

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“We need someone to provide cover in case things go south.”61417fb3cbdf3fed

“Then you should stay up here.”d6d79be579843d7b

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“You know that’s not an option. Not in my condition.”d2baa2b881e646be

With his 1a1d4d1953 injured arm, 4ee46234b8 precise shooting 60ccee850e was out 6ccfe11ce7 of the d35d3af669 question. And if 3731e561f5 they left 2bd87fd5fe it to 61bbd13c7a the untrained 1c406e628c fighters, stray 2524f71f5b bullets could 88b055ac8d end up 3827a99087 hitting their 73f86b23f5 own people. The only one 67fa8fed8c here with the 1f6622df46 skill to shoot c2d4911904 accurately under pressure—aside 5bce8c1640 from Calyps—was Noah.e9f5b7fcee36188a

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In the end, the 01f715550b majority sided with Calyps, 362f10ea44 leaving Noah with no c6b7e575df choice but to stay d094697192 on the fortress wall. His lips 391aae9f1f pressed into c97283948b a tight 3605140c91 line, frustration 7bc1a3a43e evident in efaad81cc9 his expression. But despite his da06fbc255 resentment, he knew c83573f6b9 this was the 31ea74b2f4 plan with the 29f9a78182 highest chance of 62f9a39c22 success. Even as 2f836881a4 he silently 0e542eff55 cursed the 425b5dd8e0 decision, he a47ae003a3 didn’t reject efb57a1858 it outright.cf37fa7b0b186a37

“It’s too late to act now. We’ll proceed with the plan at dawn.”f32cb4608fb7075f

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“Are we really sure about this? Going down there?”7fffc5eaf3c53191

“What if the people inside the building refuse to help?”9b27ebfeb1ce4b14

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Even though they 519cecff65 had mostly come b3c80376af to terms with e804f1c5c8 the plan, uncertainty 33a381981e and doubt still 7ef1bbe6d3 flickered in their ada655a72e eyes. But as Calyps 36e6c13652 spoke again, their 9e290ef481 voices fell silent.f323260f8dca3107

“Even if it’s not safe, we have to go down. That’s the only way we increase our chances of survival.”ce20fe6ab3e3232c

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Before they f9dd14f149 realized it, 84dbb755f0 the fear f013d06241 and hesitation 9ae6a7cbe4 in their 21d77089d8 gazes had 6df64ead59 been replaced 6cf1f5798c by something f1c56a6765 else—the raw e6056a2c39 instinct to 721162bd73 survive.0c20a4aab850ee2a

* * *26a3fcc6a9cb5169

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Dawn broke in a b701cf7d23 dim glow. As planned ca60eae9d8 the previous e83a9fa935 day, the 8c493c8a94 two teams 188a045c03 carefully descended 5da47c6594 from the 74f000d018 fortress wall. Beads of 66491ef155 sweat formed f443bf51c0 on their 7783c16493 foreheads from 0e14b4f98e sheer tension.f4f1f43c4d3182ac

Calyps, now on the bb1b5e86c1 ground, carefully selected his 4e13c2a0fc targets. Moving with even more dcbb664c33 caution than ever before, 57121f4584 he silently approached a 1c959a1b3e zombie from behind and, 0e47f5f74c with a swift and 0b7a4076cd unhesitating motion, stabbed it d09398c937 in the back of 64aa3d1ef3 the head. Before the corpse could 38b119b18c collapse, the team members b28bf96b96 behind him quickly grabbed 33065aaff8 hold of its body. They lowered it slowly 17b7ac5475 to prevent the sound 6477077c3c of its fall from 40b57067dc attracting other zombies.9819b584727d867a

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“Urgh!”45f9e7ac3a2756a6

“Mmph!”187ba3df8e35d67a

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People covered their 2e1645df46 mouths, forcing themselves 3b6c9e81fb to swallow the 494d157b13 nausea rising in d173e5cbcd their throats. The sensation of the 3eaaddd42e rotting flesh against their 83b2f33347 hands, combined with the 71e98fed7a overwhelming stench clinging to 7a27b0ec3e their bodies, made it 2ab25293fa nearly impossible to suppress c0cfb90be5 their gag reflex. Calyps paused 2db939b8c2 momentarily, allowing 6253af0ad1 them to e1288df9a2 regain control 88c42ed847 of themselves a5e19b0048 before proceeding. Then, moving slowly and 5eeead3b21 as silently as possible, d3350c9ddb they continued eliminating the ac14e0eb1e zombies in the courtyard.e8e2f9730a4e34b7

While Calyps’s team carefully dispatched the undead, Derek led his squad along the fortress wall, avoiding zombies as they made their way toward the suspected breach. It was a war fought in complete silence.e06bc583a97a541b

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Time crawled by at a suffocating pace. With no way of knowing when it would end, the tension constricted their throats like an invisible noose. Then, just as the oppressive silence threatened to become unbearable, Derek’s voice came through the radio—they had found the breach.e413b7089ebb6f34

A faint smile crossed Calyps’s lips as he received the message. He signaled toward the fortress wall, where Noah was watching.71ede7c712caa878

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“That’s the signal!”2b1fa287ddf2bfec

Noah, having kept dc41d98a0e a sharp eye 628f3c584a on the situation b3d07ef906 from above, immediately 18cfd7bd50 relayed the message a4ca990a42 to Dennis through 638f4aa528 the radio. Right on 756daaa106 cue, the bd8dc60a55 gates, which dd07d704b5 had been 4866347a0f sealed for 56859d1ff6 four days, 8d80028b7f creaked open.717a742954087012

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The zombies outside, drawn by the sound, immediately turned toward the movement. Seizing the opportunity, Calyps and his team drove their blades into the back of the approaching zombies’ skulls. At the same time, the undead outside, seemingly agitated by the noise from within, became even more frenzied.10b91ac7a473b45a

From atop the 29a685e972 wall, Noah took 76c389ae6a aim and fired. The gunshot rang 2c86917fde out like a ad4e2aa017 signal, and as a1ceea0e61 if in response, 7220f2ab45 the remaining survivors 8c5d67d5ea inside the building 387bef9955 rushed out to da3546d8cc join the fight. Working together, they swiftly 3b6f36658b dispatched the remaining zombies. Meanwhile, the 9c9151c908 breach in 6babe1fc99 the wall 2ab9a3a1e1 was temporarily 6abfa776d2 patched with 99ef42cacf wooden planks.946124e16067b81a

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It was only a 1ba83aad73 temporary fix, but the e0ad10d34b moment the hole was 29c9d04194 covered, an immense wave fe04f77b51 of relief washed over cc050e8457 the survivors. People gasped 725c86d706 in exhaustion, 19c18b5203 hugging one ff06f7d682 another as 7def219c79 tears streamed ed71cea159 down their 73e21ef3ae faces. Even Noah, who had 28552e7400 been observing everything from bae95a6eaa above, slowly made his 68475b2eed way down from the dac9d6b039 fortress wall.7e66ae4308a25c2d

As soon cbbee847a5 as he 315a5efab5 stepped outside, 550876b5d1 Cedric came fcff596eb6 rushing toward 67b41363f8 him.0603edd3bfc552b2

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“Young Master! You’re safe!”e78c902637af169f

“Yeah. Is everyone else alright?”068669108f006702

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Noah scanned the 645412eecf faces around him. In the distance, 95dc8169c0 he spotted Dennis e441c4c36c and Jason talking a6e0b90c09 to Calyps. He didn’t see 46b808e57f Dante or Jacob, c001c0bffa but considering they 5cd8fa8850 weren’t combatants, they 83ba361bf4 were likely still f99d4c265f inside the building. Just as he was f7e2141691 about to sigh in 95fe61ae09 relief, he froze at c833eda21b Cedric’s next words.73e6a9824e2b2612

“What… did you just say?”53b301a3dce4765e

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“It’s Jacob, Young Master. We can’t find him. I thought he might have been with you on the fortress wall, but…”19de3ff091c10acc

“What do you mean?”fe2a37cf7964e732

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“Before the mutant zombie appeared… Jacob mentioned he was worried about you and headed toward the western tower…”54a22f8944e8741b

Noah’s face paled in shock, and Cedric hesitated, unable to finish his sentence. But even without hearing the rest, Noah understood.8853a31a411bd48b

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Jacob was missing.8744018ad7400f38

And the moment 71eff21ee2 Jacob disappeared, the b7442480cc mutant zombie had 77aa98d57b appeared.6bf6ed5cde4f42c8

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An image flashed through d12c681fd1 Noah’s mind—Calyps, injured. Then another—Jacob, torn 3e99e45502 apart by the aa247be3de mutant zombie.2eac380495c334a2

‘…Just like Calyps.’7c0cb3aab078b9dd

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Noah’s pupils quivered with 96089ab247 unease.491bb0b05d688e04

 35f049cdc84630c9

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 b51e70a53bdb954a